The accelerator provides these teams with the support they need to build and optimise value driven products and match them with resources from Facebook and CcHUB.

The program is designed to support teams in two categories

Onsite Accelerationfor Startup Teams

Designed for startup teams with existing products who have customers or are market-ready.

Virtual Accelerationfor Student Teams

Designed for Nigerian and Ghanaian students (BSc, MSc or PhD) with working prototypes or the technical expertise required to build intended solutions.

FbStart is looking for solutions that leverage the following technologies

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2. Data Science

3. Internet-of-Things (IoT)

4. Augmented Reality (AR)

5. Virtual Reality (VR)

Why Apply to West-Africa's first deep-tech accelerator?According to the FbStart accelerator program official website, you need to apply to West-Africa's first deep-tech accelerator for the following reasons: 1. Customized and Practical Learning Sessions
You get access to Deep learning sessions in form of workshops/activities which are customized to your startups' needs

2. Access to Corporates and Innovation Showcase WeekYou would have access to corporate partners within our network and exhibit at our annual Innovation Showcase Week

3. Dedicated Facebook MentorYou would get to build your solution with guidance from some of the best engineers & experts in the world at Facebook

4. Matching with Industry ExpertsGaining insights from industry experts can save your team months of research/networking. We connect you with experts who will work closely with you

5. Up to $20,000 in equity-free fundingAccepted teams would receive equity-free grant funding to accelerate their solutions;
$20, 000 for Startups and $10, 000 for Student teams.

6. One-on-One support from the In-house expertsYou get access to strategy sessions and support from our In-house Product, Finance, Legal and Human Resource experts

7. Office Space and up to $16,000 Free Product CreditsYour team would get access to high-speed internet and office space at NG_HUB in Yaba while also receiving up to $16,000 worth of Facebook and CcHUB partner credits

8. TGIFF, Founders' Hangout, Mic Nights and much more...The accelerator is not all work! There are a lot of frequent fun activities that take place throughout the program

FAQsWho can apply?The programme is designed for teams in two categories:

- Startups: Teams with existing products and who have customers or are market-ready.
- Students: Nigerian or Ghanaian student teams (OND/HND, BSc, MSc or PhD) with working prototypes or who have the technical expertise required to build their intended solutions.

I am not a University Student and I won't be awarded a University Degree. Can I apply?Yes, you can. The programme accepts applications from other forms of Tertiary Institutions [Universities, Polytechnics], i.e. OND/HND, BSc, MSc or PhD. Our key criteria is that you are a student in a Nigerian or Ghanian tertiary institution.

Is the funding really equity-free?Yes, the funding is absolutely free. Student teams would receive $10,000 while Startup teams get $20,000 to build their solutions.

I am not a Computer Science Student, Am I still eligible to apply?Yes, you are eligible to apply regardless of your course of study. We however require that teams have full-time technical founders/co-founders or Engineers who have the technical skills required to build with advanced technologies.

What is the difference between the On-site Acceleration and Virtual Acceleration.On-site Acceleration is designed for startups: Key founders/co- founders of selected teams would be required to be available in Lagos for the entire duration of the 6-month program.

Virtual Acceleration is designed for Student Teams [OND/HND, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD]: Teams selected in this category would be free to work from their universities or our partner hubs while a space in NG_HUB would always be available for them. Occasionally, student teams would be required to be in Lagos for specific activities.

I submitted an unfinished form and still want to edit my application.Please look in your email to get the link to your form submission. There, you will see a button to edit your application. You would however not be able to do this after the deadline date.

I am a Sole [Individual] Founder with no technical skills. Can I still apply to the program?No, you cannot. Only teams with full-time technical founders or engineers who have the technical skills required to build their solution can apply.

Can I apply if my startup is not based in Nigeria or some of my team members based in other countries?For startup teams, we are currently accepting from only Nigeria and Ghana. Key founders who apply have to be based in either of these countries.

What do the terms; Prototype, MVP, Traction mean?Prototype - A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of your product usually built to test the concept or process, for demonstration purposes or as part of the development process for your solution. It can come in a variety of forms including paper, Semantics, 3D printing, software programming. forms

MVP [Minimum Viable Product] - An MVP is an existing functional version of your product. This means that your idea has gone beyond the idea stage and you have built something that can perform at least one of the tasks that your solution aims to tackle.

Traction - Traction is a summary of what your team has achieved so far. There is no fixed format or expectation for this. We would just like to hear about the efforts you've committed to your project so far.

What's the process like after submission?The selection process would be managed by experts from CcHUB and Facebook. The specifics of the selection process would be communicated to the shortlisted teams and all teams would be informed of the status of their application in August, 2019.

I still work in an organisation which helps me build and run my Startup gradually. Will I be able to do so in the Accelerator?To get the best out of the programme, you would be required to work on your Startup full time.